Fresh, Tasty Meal Ideas for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner! CircleB Ranch #Review + #Giveaway #TastyTuesday

Our family loves meat. I grew up loving pork- everything from ham, ribs, bacon and meatballs to Italian sausage, breakfast sausage and more. I couldn't imagine not eating pork, as pork is a baseline for many of my favorite meals. My husband is also a lover of pork, and of course, in the south, pork is huge (BBQ, anyone?). As much as we love pork, we're pretty selective when it comes to the pork we purchase. Hubby is particular when iit comes to any type of meat, actually. We're always looking for good cuts that look nice and clean, and have the right proportion of fat for the dish we'll be preparing. We like knowing where the meat came from, as well.

A couple of months ago, I connected with Marina of Circle B Ranch, MO. Circle B Ranch raises Berkshire pork from the Ozarks, Circle B Ranch is located just about 30 miles east of Springfield. Circle B Ranch provides a safe, all-natural home to breed, farrow and raise 100% Heritage Pork which includes Berkshire/Kurabota and Red Wattle. Theye run their hog farm naturally, sustainably and humanely with no added hormones or unnecessary antibiotics. Circle B Ranch raises their hogs the “old-fashioned” way, outside on the pasture where the hogs can run and exercise their instincts, the way nature intended. That is what makes Circle B Ranch meat redder and more succulent. If you’re looking for the best pork available on the market, look no further than Circle B Ranch.

Marina offered to send us a variety of Circle B Ranch products to sample and enjoy as a family, I couldn't wait to try some of their naturally raised pork! My husband was so excited to hear that we'd be receiving some yummy pork, as well! Marina sent us the fresh pork products via 2-day shipping, and they arrived nice and cool. We received three pounds of different flavors of bacon, Marina's Meatballs, Italian Sausage, and then we also received some non-perishables via a second package, which arrived a few days later:Big John's BBQ Sauce, Home made Ketchup, Cranberry Chutney, and Marina's Tomato Sauce.

Our products arrived in this package- to keep them nice, fresh, and cool.

We couldn't wait to try these three varieties of bacon: Uncured Bacon, Pepper Cured bacon, and Hickory Smoked Cured Bacon.

My husband was pretty much in love with Circle B Ranch after he laid eyes on all of the bacon! He is definitely one who believes that everything tastes better with bacon! We wanted to try the uncured bacon first, because we were interested in what it would taste like, as niether of us remembered having tried uncured bacon before. We didn't do anything fancy with the uncured bacon, because we wanted to taste it's true flavor. We served it up with some eggs and toast for breakfast one morning, and were blown away by how good it was.

The bacon- all three flavors, tasted like no other bacon we had previously tried. This bacon was so clean tasting- we actually tasted the real flavor of the pork, and it was incredible! There was such a huge difference in taste between this yummy naturally, humanely raised pork and what we're used to eating.

The uncured bacon was so good! I also really loved the peppered bacon. I am a huge lover of pepper, so this peppery flavor around the edges of the bacon was right up my alley. We enjoyed some of the peppered bacon a top hamburgers, and they were so good! Hubby especially loved the Hickory Smoked Bacon. He prepapred it for breakfast one morning, which we enjoyed with homemade waffles. We crumbled the leftover bacon onto steaks we had for dinner, and the flavor combination was insanely delicious!

This was hands down the best bacon we've ever had, and hubby said he doesn't think he can go back to buying store bought bacon after having bacon from Circle B Ranch! Who would want to?

Yummy, crispy bacon from Circle B Ranch!

Waffles and peppered bacon, anyone?

Bacon Details...

At Circle B Ranch we take our Bacon seriously. We start with Humanely Raised and Antibiotic Free Berkshire Pork Belly. Hickory Smoked and Sliced for your enjoyment. BLT’s to Breakfast, you cannot find a better tasting bacon. This will be some of the best bacon you have every ever eaten!

1 lb. package

NITRITE FREE

GLUTEN FREE

Ingredients: Water, Sea Salt, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Brown Sugar, Organic Cinnamon and Organic Clove.

Marina also sent us some yummy Sweet Italian Sausage. My husband isn't a fan of Italian sausage, because he doesn't like the seeds. I prepared an Italian Sausage and Peppers meal for my parents when I was visiting with them, and we all agreed that this was some of the best Italian sausage we'd ever had! I was a bit worried for my mom's sake, because she can't handle anything remotely spicy. This sausage was so mild and flavorful, and she really loved it! I know she was happy to have been introduced to a sausage she could actually eat! The sausages were so juciy and plump, and they just cooked up beautifully! They tasted so, so good, and the onions and peppers just added to their yumminess!

Pan of Italian sausage and peppers (we're Italian, so this type of meal was a staple for me, growing up).

Check out the sausages, underneath the peppers! Mmm!

We didn't want to take away fom the sausage, so we didn't bother with any bread. We served up a simple salad on the side, and enjoyed the sausage with a crisp glass of wine. It was an incredible meal!

Sweet Italian Sausage Details

We start with Humanely raised and Antibiotic Free ground pork with our secret Italian Spices. Crumble it for a delicious topping for your homemade pizza. Use it with Marina’s Italian Style Tomato Sauce for a delicious traditional Sausage and Peppers. Add it to your Sunday meat Sauce!! One of our favorites is right off the grill.

All fresh pork is cut and frozen immediately to preserve its freshness. All meat by the cut will be packaged in thick cryovac pouches to extend its freezer life.

4 links per package. 1 lb. package.

*Other sausage varieties available!

Marina also sent us a jar of her homemade tomato sauce!

I am very picky when it comes to tomato sauce. I am used to making my own sauce, and come from a long line of Italian cooks who love to make a 24 or even 48 hour sauce. We use fresh everything when making sauce- tomatoes, herbs, etc... and so does Marina! I had pretty high expectations for this tomato sauce, and was looking for a super fresh flavor. Let me tell you- I was not disappointed!

You may find it funny for me to describe a tomato sauce this way, but this was a beautiful sauce!

We didn't use the whole jar of sauce at once- a little goes a long way.

This was the perfect sauce to serve over ravioli!

Marina's Tomato Sauce is one of the best, freshest tasting tomato sauces I have ever had. I tatsted real, fresh ingredients- and lots of basil, which just so happens to be my favorite herb. A lot Italian cooks go a bit heavier on the oregano (which I also love, but I love basil even more!), so I was happy that there was a distinct basil flavor in this delicious sauce!

Tomato Sauce Details

Nanna’s Old World Recipe… 24 ounces of Delicious Tomato Sauce to pour over your favorite pasta or use in your favorite recipes. Delicious over pasta or pour it in a bowl and enjoy with some crispy Italian Bread. Add Marina’s Italian Style Meatballs for a guilt free dinner for your family.

Marina’s Italian Style Tomato Sauce is made with finest fresh ingredients. Tomatoes, tomato puree, Olive oil, garlic, basil, salt, coarse ground pepper and pure cane sugar.

No added preservatives, no corn syrup and no tomato paste. Handcrafted in small batches.

Marina’s Italian Style Tomato Sauce is 35 calories for a 1/2 cup serving. Low in Sugar and Salt. Gluten Free.

To follow up the tomato sauce, we tried Marina's Homemade Ketchup!

As you could imagine, I am also picky about ketchup. I love a nice balance of sweet and salty, and don't like for my ketchup to be runny. Marina's ketchup recipe is so, so good! I like ketchup on burgers, potatoes, eggs, etc. Normally, when I pan fry potatoes, I do what my dad does, and rizzle honey over the potatoes, and then layer the ketchup on top. With Marina's Ketchup, I didn't have to do that, because that fresh sweetness was there, with a bit of zip! My potatoes have never tasted so yummy!

Marina's Homemade Ketchup on our burgers, and on pan fried potatoes!

Marina's Homemade Ketchup Details

Naturally Gluten Free, No Soy or Dairy

-Simple Ingredients including tomatoes, organic garlic and onion powder

-No caramel coloring, no preservatives or artificial colors

-Low in Sugar. No High Fructose Corn Syrup. Sweetened with Honey and Sugar.

-Low in Sodium

-Low in Calories

-Use on hamburgers, hot dogs or any of your favorite recipes.

Made in the United States. Made in Small batches

We also tried Marina's Meatballs! Look at how huge they are!

We browned the meatballs for spaghetti night!

The meatballs were a breeze to warm through (they were fully cooked already), and then I cut them into quarters, as they were so large, and tossed them with Angel Hair pasta, in with the rest of Marina's Tomato Sauce, and Parmesan Cheese!

This was an incredible dinner!

Details of Marina's Meatballs

Marina’s Italian Meatballs are meant to go with Marina’s Tomato Sauce. They are made with Pork and Beef. Marina’s Meatballs are fully cooked and ready for your next meal. Working mothers and fathers find these to be an easy and healthy dinner for their family. Children and parents alike love the taste of these meatballs.

Simple Ingredients such as pork, beef, eggs, bread, romano cheese, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and parsley.

Each 3 ounce serving is 220 calories.

We also received Big John's Homemade BBQ Sauce, and Marina's Cranberry Cutney!

We have not yet used the BBQ Sauce or the Cranberry Chutney, because we are saving these two beauties for our beach vacation (which starts this weekend!). We're bringing along a pork butt for BBQ, and we'll be using Big John's BBQ Sauce! We're also bringing along the Cranberry Chutney, and I plan to glaze some chicken with it, and serve with rice. I am a huge fan of canberry chicken! We'll have a lot of mouths to feed at the beach (nine of us), and we're really looking forward to sharing these yummy sauces with our family! Check for an update over the next two weeks on how we used the BBQ sauce and the chutney!

Details of Big John's Homemade BBQ Sauce

Thick and Rich. Sweet and Spicy!!

Slather it on ribs, stir it into pulled pork or enjoy it on your favorite BBQ chicken recipe.

Ingredients: Marina’s Ketchup, Cider Vinegar, Brown Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Molasses, Hot Sauce, Ground Mustard, Red Pepper Flakes. Gluten Free! No High Fructose Corn Syrup!

Cranberry Chutney Details

Whole cranberries and oranges with a delicate touch of spices. Delicious with pork, chicken, turkey or cheese.

Ingredients include Cranberries, Sugar, Onion, Oranges, Raisins, Walnuts, Cinnamon, ginger, Nutmeg, Salt, Cayenne.

Gluten Free

I really appreciate that the pork products are humanely raised, and you really can taste the incredible difference with the flavor of the pork! The sauces are also low sodium and gluten free, which is so wonderful! My family especially has to be careful about sodium, so these are perfect for us. If you're looking for a true homemade taste, look no further than Circle B Ranch. Their products are well worth the price, and my frugal husband says he would gladly order pork from Circle B Ranch, because it's just that incredible!

Want them? Get them!

Head on over to Circle B Ranch to browse all of their available pork products and homemade sauces! You can also learn more about the Circle B Ranch Story! Connect with Circle B Ranch on Facebook & Twitter, where Marina fequently shares updates and photos of what she's been cookin' up!

Want them? Get them!

One lucky reader will win a trio of sauces from Circle B Ranch, including Marina's Tomato Sauce, Marina's Homemade Ketchup, and Big John's BBQ Sauce! How perfect is this giveaway to kick off your summer grilling and entertaining season? This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 and older. Just use the RC entry form below to enter for your chance to win!

Special thanks to Marina of Circle B Ranch for allowing us to experience and share about these delicious products, and for offering this incredible giveaway for our readers!

Good luck & happy cooking!